Karen Carpenter's calm, often somber voice was the most distinctive element of their music, settling in perfectly amidst the precise, lush arrangements provided by her brother Richard. The duo's sound drew more from pre-rock pop than rock & roll, but that didn't prevent the Carpenters from appealing to a variety of audiences, particularly Top 40, easy listening, and adult contemporary. While their popularity declined during the latter half of the '70s, they remained one of the most distinctive and recognizable acts the decade produced.
The Carpenters formed in the late '60s in Downey, CA, after their family moved from their native New Haven, CT. Richard had played piano with a cocktail jazz trio in a handful of local Connecticut nightclubs. Once the family had moved to California, he began to study piano while he supported Karen in a trio that featured Wes Jacobs (tuba/bass). With Jacobs and Richard forming her backup band, Karen was signed to the local Californian record label Magic Lamp, who released two unsuccessful singles by the singer. The trio won a Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, which led to a record contract with RCA. Signing under the name The Richard Carpenter Trio, the group cut four songs that were never released. Jacobs left the band at the beginning of 1968.
Following Jacobs' departure, the siblings formed Spectrum with Richard's college friend John Bettis. Spectrum fell apart by the end of the year, but the Carpenters continued performing as a duo. The pair recorded some demos at the house of Los Angeles session musician Joe Osborn; the tape was directed toward Herb Alpert, the head of A&M Records, who signed the duo to his record label in early 1969.
Offering, the Carpenters' first album, was released in November 1969. Neither Offering or the accompanying single, a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride," made a big impression. However, the Carpenters' fortunes changed with their second single, a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Taken from the album Close to You, the single became the group's first number one, spending four weeks on the top of the U.S. charts. "Close to You" became an international hit, beginning a five-year period where the duo was one of the most popular recording acts in the world. During that period the Carpenters won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist of 1970, and had an impressive string of Top Ten hits, including "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Goodbye to Love," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World."
After 1975's number-four hit "Only Yesterday," the group's popularity began to decline. For the latter half of the '70s, the duo were plagued by personal problems. Richard had become addicted to prescription drugs; in 1978, he entered a recovery clinic, kicking his habit. Karen, meanwhile, became afflicted with anorexia nervosa, a disease she suffered from for the rest of her life. On top of their health problems, the group's singles had stopped reaching the Top Ten and by 1978, they weren't even reaching the Top 40. Consequently, Karen decided to pursue a solo career, recording a solo album in 1979 with Phil Ramone. The record was not completed at that time (though it would be released in 1996), and she returned to the Carpenters later that year. The reunited duo released their last album of new material, Made in America, in 1981. The album marked a commercial comeback, as "Touch Me When We're Dancing" made it to number 16 on the charts. However, Karen's health continued to decline, forcing the duo out of the spotlight. On February 4, 1983, Karen was found unconscious at her parents' home in Downey; she died in the hospital shortly after due to cardiac arrest, which was later due to the strain on her heart caused by years of crash dieting caused by anorexia nervosa.
After Karen's death, Richard Carpenter concentrated on production work and assembling various compilations of the Carpenters' recorded work. In 1987, he released a solo album called Time, which featured guest appearances by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
from http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=1607403&contenttype=artistsongs
Boat To Sail
Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a california label
From the top of my head,
Forever, ah
When the sun goes down
There's a hot, lot of loving when you come
Around, to free me, ah
In a boat to sail, boat to sail, away, ah
All those letters mailed from a
Boat to sail, away ah
We are riding in a boat to sail
Bare foot, coconut and supermild
Jamaica take a look
At your own child
Forget not
Brian wilson songs are never left behind
Don't you worry baby, you're a friend of mine
For so long
From a boat to sail, boat to sail, away ah
All those letters mailed, from a
Boat to sail, away ah
We are riding in a boat to sail
We are riding in a boat to sail
In "Boat to Sail," The Carpenters are contrasting their distinctly Californian lifestyle against a more urban lifestyle. The opening lines establish this contrast, with Karen Carpenter singing about living in the city and up late, while her lover is from upstate and is used to more open space. The chorus speaks to the freedom that the couple finds in their relationship, with Karen Carpenter singing about being in a "boat to sail" away from their problems.
The second verse speaks to the couple's sense of adventure and their willingness to travel. They are barefoot and enjoying the tropical setting of Jamaica, where they can escape the usual stresses of life. Yet, they're not trying to leave their past behind, as they mention Brian Wilson songs, indicating their love of classic California music.
Overall, "Boat to Sail" is a song about the importance of finding freedom and the freeing power of love. It's about finding a way to leave behind the stresses of the urban lifestyle and to find a simpler kind of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You're up state, up late, and city fed
You come from a busy urban lifestyle where you work hard and stay up late while I come from California, which is more laid back and relaxed.
I'm a California label
I am a symbol of the California lifestyle and attitude.
From the top of my head, forever, ah
I will always be true to myself and my roots in California.
See a lot of open sky
I am surrounded by open spaces and natural beauty.
When the sun goes down, there's a hot, lot of loving when you come
When the day is done, we can relax and enjoy each other's company and love.
Around, to free me, ah
Being with you makes me feel free and happy.
In a boat to sail, boat to sail, away, ah
We are escaping from the hustle and bustle of city life and heading out to sea.
All those letters mailed from a boat to sail, away ah
We are writing letters to our loved ones back home from our boat as we sail away.
We are riding in a boat to sail
We are enjoying the freedom and tranquility of sailing away from our busy lives.
Barefoot, coconut, and supermild
We are embracing the relaxed and carefree lifestyle of the Caribbean, where we can walk barefoot on the beach and enjoy the tropical climate and coconuts.
Jamaica take a look at your own child
We are exploring the beauty and wonder of Jamaica and realizing that we are all connected as children of the earth.
Forget not Brian Wilson songs are never left behind
We are enjoying the music of Brian Wilson, which represents the spirit and freedom of California, even though we are in Jamaica.
Don't you worry baby, you're a friend of mine, for so long
We have been friends for a long time and we will always be there to support each other and enjoy life together, no matter where we go.
Lyrics © PLAIN AND SIMPLE MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACKIE DE SHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Parker
on Happy
Wrong lyrics shown. Correct ones --- Happy by Carpenters
I've played the game of love before.
Too young to know
How hard the fall could be;
I never thought I'd try again.
Somehow you brought
The gambler out in me.
You can deal me in this time around.
Even though the odds are high,
We'll play them down.
You may be a chance I need to take,
And the hand I'm holdin' says it's no mistake.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
If this is luck then let it ride.
If it's the starts,
They're surely on my side.
I've never been so safisfied
By love before;
For all the times I've tried.
These beginnings could mean more
Than the brief affair I bargained for.
Little did I know, when we began,
That my time had come to win a hand.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.
Please forgive me if I seem
To be walking through a waking dream.
Laughter never came so easily;
There's a freedom here that's new to me.
Happy is the way I'm feelin',
And I know it comes from being with you.
All at once my life is changin',
And I know it's 'cause I'm fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love with you.
Fallin' in love.
Fallin' in love with you.